The Story Behind My SuperSoul Session With Oprah (Video)

151 Comments

Hiya Gorgeous!

Confession: My close friends have been making fun of me lately. Why? I’ve had a “gone writing” email autoresponder forever. Whether it was writing Crazy Sexy Juice, then launching it, or working on my new cleanse program coming out in August, I’ve been in the writing cave.

Another project that took my full focus was the talk I recently did at UCLA for Oprah’s SuperSoul Sessions (you can watch it above). I was really excited when I got the offer. Without a doubt it was a whole body “yes!”. But I was also aware of the kind of mental and physical prep it would take to do a great job. If you’re not familiar with Oprah’s SuperSoul Sessions, they’re sorta like spiritual TED Talks filled with high caliber thought leaders. No chumps allowed—all A game—all the time.

Naturally, I wanted to crush it. And the best way I crush it is to practice my ass off. So I called up my speaking coach and we began sculpting my talk months in advance. We started the process by working with index cards. Each card had a short word or a phrase that triggered a story or led to a teaching.

We went big, tossing out every fun, practical and poignant idea. Note: It’s common to start this process with a hundred or so cards that eventually get reduced to 5-10 must-haves.

We talked about whether I should do something new and fresh, or go with tried and true stories and wisdom that I know work. While both options have their merits and challenges, when you’re given a chance to make an impact on a powerful global stage, I think it’s best to do what you know. Do what makes you feel confident. Do what works. That’s my advice and that’s what I did.

But here’s the rub: While I’ve given hundreds of lectures over the years, I’d never done a super short TED talk. And guess what? It’s much harder than you think! No note cards, no chair (mama likes to sit), no slides, nada.

I’m used to 60-90 minutes, which feels like a luxurious meal with the audience. 18-20 minutes? That’s like a spiritual drive-thru. You have to nourish, inspire and distill your message down to snackable nuggets. Think of it like wisdom from concentrate.

Whittling down my message to 1/6th of its usual size wasn’t only challenging, it was a mental stretch too. I’m very visually creative. I see my talks in my head. I picture the bones, muscle and fascia. I thrive in the artistic sinew and so when a section of my creative anatomy gets cut out, it’s almost like I feel unsettled and lost. Translation: I forget where I am.

Pssst… Fearing losing your place and ending up like a deer in the headlights will keep a gal up at night. The solution: more practice. Months of practice. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I put at least 100 hours of work into those 18-20 minutes. Now that may seem like A LOT to most, but that’s the kind of prep I need to rock it when the stakes are high.

So I’m doing the work. Rehearsing in the woods, in the car, in the shower, in my office, Skyping with my coach and it’s all coming together. The haircut is booked. The highlights are scheduled. The dress options are picked out (note: bring two in case of a malfunction or drool). Even the underwear gets an upgrade. Can this bra hold a mic pack under the dress? Better get a stronger one. Do these heels wobble or are they sturdy enough to hold me up while I hold the space in the room? Every detail gets planned—my message, my nails, my makeup. You name it.

Suffice to say, it all came together. Until it fell apart.

Brian and I had rented a house in Venice a few days before the event. We arrived on a Tuesday and the gig wasn’t until Saturday. Plenty of time to adjust to the new time zone and land the plane on my speech prep. Thankfully, one of my best friends, Marie Forleo, was also giving a talk, so the two of us rehearsed together. Marie even rented a theater so we could do a run-through on a real stage.

During said run-throughs, I’m kicking ass and growing more confident by the day. My coach and I do another check-in over Skype, tweak a few more points, cut another chunk for time’s sake. And voila, I’ve got it down to close to 18ish minutes, and I’m on fire. But that’s when the insomnia kicks in. A few nights before the talk, I stop sleeping.

Getting only 3-4 hours per night doesn’t work for me. I begin to get concerned because when I’m tired, I don’t remember anything. Cut to the night before the gig—two hours of sleep. That’s it. Was I scared? Yes. Did my confidence shrink? Yes. Did I want to chew my own arm off and tell them that unfortunately I couldn’t make it? Yes. Did I go for it anyway? YES!

Be your own champion.

Putting your ass on the line takes courage, especially when the stakes are high and it’s not easy or going your way. But the people who are the most successful are the ones who are willing to try and even fail. It’s natural to doubt yourself. It’s natural to want to run. But it’s phenomenal to stick with it and give it your all anyway.

So there I am, in my dressing room, listening to Oprah introduce the speaker before me, and I know it’s now or never. So I lean in close to the mirror, look myself in the eyes and say, “You are pure magic. Now go out there and share that magic. You’ll be fine. This is your time.”

Before heading back stage, I sneak past security and go outside. Nature grounds me like no other. Deep breath, take in the sky, the light, the trees. Kick off my shoes for a minute and put my feet in the grass. I see a little squirrel eating a nut, which makes me smile because I love animals. I lean toward him and say, “Hey dude, wanna be me instead?” He responds, “No f’ing way, lady. I’m eating this nut. You’re the nut that said yes to public speaking. Not me!” OK, then!

And now it’s my turn. Oprah announces me, I hold my hand over my heart, whisper “you got this”, and walk out on stage. Next thing I know, I’m on fire—having fun and deeply enjoying connecting with the wonderful audience. After I finish (and get a standing ovation!), I silently apologize to myself for ever doubting my potential—lack of sleep and all.

I bet there have been moments in your life when you’ve wanted to run, doubted yourself and even felt lost. In those moments we have a choice: we can choose fear, like I say in my talk, or we can choose love.

On the SuperSoul stage, I challenged everybody to love and care for themselves unconditionally, especially when we’re facing our fears. Whether you’re prepping for a presentation, a doctor’s visit or a job interview, you’ve got this. You always have and you always will.

Your turn: I hope you enjoy my talk (watch it above!). It’s the culmination of many years of personal work, soul searching and empowerment. If you get an ah-ha, share it! I’d love to know.

151 Responses…

OMG! This was so great. Your talk was AMAZING. You look so natural and comfortable up there, and your words and story are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your process for prepping up to the nervousness at the very end. I loved reading about how you grounded yourself outside just before. You are such an inspiration!

Kris…what can I say that hasn’t already been said? Thanks for being so open and kind to share with the world! Definitely resonated with this talk. And also love love love you meditation guide…especially the pep talk, I play it now as routine even when I don’t need one 🙂 YOU simply ROCK! xo

I just watched this and wanted to thank you for inspiring me. I have been having health challenges for so many years now I feel broken. It’s not cancer, so that’s lucky, but I have severe asthma, that turns into bronchitis, the prednisone that I’ve had to take has left my adrenals wiped out. I have so far to go, I know exactly what to do but I just feel broken, like I somehow am incapable of being healthy. Every time I start down the healthy path, something happens, something to set it off again and down the wrong path I go. I’m tired. But, your speech has inspired me to pick myself up again and realize I’m not broken, I need to love myself more to turn this around. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this post! I am a very nervous public speaker. To a point where one would say its pathological. It has really affected my personal life and career – stopping me from going for job interviews (even after I’ve been shortlisted and clearly can do the job!) , put myself up for conferences (I am in academia where you are expected to present your work) and speaking up in meetings with large groups of people. I watched your talk on SoulSession months ago and thought. “Wow. She is just amazing. So confident. I want to be speaker just like her.” I had no idea that so much went into it and that you had your own insecurities to overcome. This really gives me hope. Thank you thank you.

I was at the very first Super Soul Sessions in L.A., and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I am so glad you shared your video from this continuing series, it was beautiful and very inspirational. Sending you healing vibes and positive thoughts for your continued success in both your life and healing. <3 & peace. J~

Tears… sweet warm tears running down my cheeks. Big crazy unconditionel loving heart. Thank you Kris for sharing who You are and reminding us who We all are in our essence. Even though I heard it so many times listening to Eckhart Tolle, Kim and so many other so called spiritual teachers…Your unique way of telling and writing touched me deeply. Love and Gratitude, Mai

I was deeply touched by your creative writing skills and especially your humor! Yes, you truly are an inspiration to all people whether they have Cancer, other serious illnesses, or are fortunate (which many people are not aware of) to be living free from a serious life threatening or chronically painful disease.
I am a bit curious how you located my name and email address. But, however that occurred ( I believe in the quotation,
“If it is meant to be”). I also deeply believe through my 82 years of living, as a retired and soulful non traditional psychologist, that it is the Inner Journey from our Heart that is our Awakening source. Wishing you continued health, happiness and laughter. xoxo

17:59 NAILED IT! You are so blessed to have a mission and purpose in your journey called life, many without a “diagnosis” have no such thing. The talk, the message, the information. Lovely and balanced, inspiring and empowering. Now, get some sleep…

Kris, what you said and how you felt resonated with me so deeply. I am losing hope many times and as you said, I have been almost paralyzed by these horrible “movies” always insisting on their playdates in my head.
You egged me to continue treasuring my life and all that it has to offer. I also felt envious of people, how healthy and painless they seemed. You acknowledging those feelings made me feel that it is normal and just being human to do so.
I now feel that it is okay to accept that one might not be cured but one can still be healthy.
Thank you. And here’s to our best health!

Kris, you are such an inspiration and you speak so clearly and powerfully. I love listening to you and reading your books. Your adorable, precious and a light that shines like a sun. Thank you for reminding us that we all shine in our own way and have the option and choice for being a force of light in the world.

WOW Kris, every time I hear you talk or read your blog, you blow me away! You’re real and gorgeous and inspiring! Thank you for sharing all you’ve learned, for sharing WHO YOU ARE, with the world! Since discovering you and Anthony William, I’ve become a gluten-free vegan. Well, mostly…I still can’t drink black coffee or resist the odd cheat meal…or my 3-4 cigarettes a day (down from 20 a day), but the meditation practice I’ve started now helps for that and many other things. But I’m learning how to fall in love with life, MY LIFE, for the first time in 40 years! Wow, there’s real magic in that! So thank you for your contribution to my newfound love for myself and for ME that is now emerging! Continue to shine, sparkle and spread your love and magic…it’s BEAUTIFUL and POWERFUL! Sending you love!

Kris-thank you for sharing your heart and soul-filled work. Congrats on your talk. What a clever and captivating way to deliver such an inspiring and important message. Yes to loving yourself well!! All the best.

I am getting out the Windex! When going thru 5 mths of chemo, ice cream was my downfall. I didn’t realize how bad it was for me then and how hard it would be to give it up now almost a year later. I was diagnosed with stage3 breast cancer 6 mths after losing my husband (heart attack). We were getting ready to retire. I have had chemo, radiation, a double mastectomy and 2 more surgeries leaving my chest deformed and me questioning myself, my decisions, my plans for the future. You have lifted my spirit! You have renewed my hope.! I will take better care of myself, I will continue to fight this cancer battle and I will share your message! Thank you?

Bless you, that’s a lot to go through, and I’m very sorry about your Husband, hugs. grief is often followed by illness. Keep expressing yourself, find joy wherever possible, and know that yes, you CAN do this! ? xx

wow, i just saw this for the first time today,
you are so inspiring and watching your video made me feel like a super woman!
i feel like i can do anything!
i feel like i can conquer all who stand in my way!
i laughed, i cried, i listened and i learned
thank you

Wow! That is one of the most inspiring speeches I have seen for a long time, (& I watch a lot of speeches), but more than that, it really resonated not only with me, but with everyone in the audience – just look at their faces! Truly Transformational – I know I will be thinking about this for a long time to come, thank you! ? X

Amazing talk, your practice was well worth it. It flowed beautifully just as it always does when you speak. “Honouring myself” is what I am learning to do this year 2017. and “Giving myself permission” And you know what, it feels good. Scary but good. Somedays I fall off the wagon and go back to old habits of judgement but then a little voice gives me a nudge and I think, No, that’s not honouring myself. Go back to that path again and I’m there. Big love & hugs and Thank you Kris xxx

Kris — did you ever look into if True North Health Center could help you get rid of the cancer? The supervised water-fasting? There’s also something called Protocel, highlighted in the book “Outsmart Your Cancer”. I have a very slow-growing follicular lymphoma. I will be looking into these two things.

P.S. Absorbing your messages I think have had a significant positive effect on me. Thank you. You are very gifted.

I’m very grateful to have arrived on your list!! Your fun and vivacious and smart! What an amazing messenger for using your ‘opportunities’. Like…wow! Such an illuminated gift for me at this moment, as I struggle to break through my fears, embrace my gifts and live! Thank you thank you thank you!!!❤️

Dang baby girl, you are one of the toughest, most kick-ass people I know. You make ME want to be the best I can be (and that’s a tough one). After I read one of your blogs or watch one of your vlogs, I always feel renewed and grateful. Grateful for the wisdom to really understand the message being shared, and grateful for the soul who is spreading that positivity to anyone who really needs to hear that message. You’re like a crazy, sexy warrior with combat boots on.. and that’s very cool.